Last Updated on 12 June 2026 by Colette
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This year’s Opera House Panto sees the return of Jason Manford for a fourth year playing the legendary Robin Hood himself (and let me tell you, he had clearly worked hard to prepare for those tights) alongside Ben Nickless as Will Scarlet – or as he is known in this performance, “Silly Willy”. The on stage chemistry between Jason and Ben is brilliant and you know you’re always in for a right laugh when they get together.
I’d had particularly challenging start to the week but from the moment the curtain up I was swept up in the glitz, glamour and belly laughs. Panto at the Opera House is in a league of its own – there is absolutely nothing subtle about it and that’s exactly why we love it.
When we were talking ahead of the panto, Chlo described it to Amy as, “the one that’s just about the two of them” and she’s not wrong. As I have said in previous reviews of Jason Manford and Ben Nickless in panto at Opera House Manchester, the plot is fairly loose and basically just exists to give the lads as much room as possible to be funny – so if you’re looking for a balanced panto with a proper story or you don’t like Jason Manford, this isn’t the one. What you’re getting served here is the Jason and Ben show with added glam and panto sparkle – and this honestly isn’t a bad thing as they are absolutely hilarious together.
This year’s Robin Hood ticks every panto box: audience interaction, familiar call-and-responses (“He’s behind you!”, “Oh no you won’t!”), running gags (many of which have been rehashed from previous years but were still brilliantly done), chaotic set pieces and the kind of jokes that only make sense in pantomime. The sets are oversized, the costumes are fabulous (shout out to Crossroads Pantomimes wardrobe department!) and the dancers are always amazing.
Highlights for us as a family were King Richard’s wig, the 12 days of Christmas parody (five toilet rooooolls!), the audience cam (this is is the second time we’ve seen an audience cam this season – it’s clearly a “thing”) and pop culture references to that bloody Jet2 advert (I do not need that stuck in my head again!) and 6,7 (eye roll). Chlo advises that if you’ve just washed your hair, you probably don’t want to be sat in the front half of the stalls either!
It has to be said we did really miss Myra Dubois this year (please bring her back!) and, whilst the story of Robin Hood doesn’t really call for a panto dame, it’s something the kids love as, in Ben’s words, “It just isn’t panto without a dame!” Adam Strong (or “Temu Adam Lambert” as Willy called him) made a handsome villain but we all agreed we felt the character of The Sherriff of Nottingham was a bit lacking – like he wasn’t bad enough and definitely not funny enough – I think we’ve been fully spoiled by Tim Lucas in panto at St Helens there!
Every year I’m caught out by what a set of pipes Jason Manford has – we’re so used to him making us laugh that I always forget how well he can sing (when he’s not being interrupted by Ben for comedy value!). He was looking in fine fettle this year – something we noticed as soon as he walked on stage and whilst he did reference this himself, I was a bit uncomfortable with the jokes around weight loss as this is something I’m always quite conscious of around children.
This year sees Ben’s 21s panto season (and his 7th year at the Opera House) and it shows – his physical comedy, timing and incredible impressions wow us every year and Opera House Manchester would be fools to let him go – it wouldn’t be the same without Ben now! Give the man a pay rise and sign him in for the next decade!
If you want a festive night full of big laughs, brilliant performances and proper panto magic, Robin Hood at Manchester Opera House absolutely delivers.
Robin Hood runs until Sunday 5th January 2026 and you can book tickets for Robin Hood at Opera House Manchester online now.
You can read more about pantomime at Opera House Manchester here:
Cinderella at Opera House Manchester – Review [2024]
Jack and the Beanstalk at Opera House Manchester – Review [2023]
If you’re looking for parking near Manchester Opera House, you’ll find that here and you might find this list of the best restaurants near Manchester Opera House handy too!
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